Flooding delays barge traffic

Extreme rainfall has resulted in flooding on much of the inland waterways and delayed barge traffic. During June, flooding caused several lock closures on the Mississippi, Illinois, and Arkansas rivers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in today’s Grain Transportation Report.

During the week ending July 1, Mississippi River Locks 20, 21, 22, 24, and 25 (Clayton, Mo., to Grafton, Ill.) were closed for a few days due to high water, the USDA reported. St. Louis Harbor has since been reopened to daylight traffic only for barge tows greater than 600 feet. On July 1, Mississippi River levels at St. Louis rose to slightly over 38 feet (a level where the Coast Guard activates river traffic restrictions), but the Coast Guard did bot order a complete closure with flood levels forecast to recede during the upcoming holiday weekend